Steel pipe to be used in the oil pipeline of Kinder Morgan Canada's Trans Mountain expansion project sit on rail cars at a stockpile site in Kamloops, B.C., on May 29, 2018.Dennis Owen / Reuters

Pardon me if I don’t get up and kiss Trudeau’s butt.

To be fair, the thumbs-up for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion, a pipeline Canadian taxpayers now own because the former owners wouldn’t deal with all the BS and bailed, is better than a kick in the ass with a frozen boot.

But we face many more questions than answers Tuesday.

Then again, the news hits the streets from the cozy cocoon of the nation’s capital, far away from those in Alberta who’ve been screwed over and are convinced there’s a very good chance they’ll be screwed over again.

The pipeline expansion green light is announced in the safe confines of Ottawa where Alberta is only first when they look in the atlas of Canadian provinces and much of the press sounds unhappy the prime minister even took this step.

Trudeau didn’t have to take the tough questions from Alberta newshounds.

That’s important. Remember Trudeau wasn’t forced to try to walk back his comments about phasing out the oilsands until he came here.

Ditto the time a certain scribbler asked Trudeau whether he’d give a go to the Energy East pipeline if the National Energy Board was on board. Happened here.

Then again, in Ottawa they ask other people in Ottawa what Albertans think, on the rare occasions when they even care what Albertans think.

In the capital, Ottawa’s government officials speak of the nuts and bolts of Tuesday’s decision but much of what is said is very hard to hear on phone lines reserved for those of us in the outback and Team Trudeau does not provide any audio.

Some smart guy is talking about the route of the pipeline and it sounds like the route is open to change but you have to be in Ottawa to make out the words.

Back in Alberta, the words are loud and clear. Premier Kenney says this day is not a victory to celebrate, just another step along the way. He is not high-fiving as Rachel Notley and her NDP buddies did.

Success is measured by shovels in the ground and, more importantly, shovels that stay in the ground until the pipeline crosses the finish line, whenever that is.

The federal government must ensure the rule of law prevails. Kenney says he raised the issue with Trudeau over the phone Tuesday afternoon.

Kenney points to the “tiny minority who are committed to breaking the law to block our economic progress.”

The premier says it comes down to whether Canada is a democracy or “a country that hands to a handful of foreign-funded special interests the ability to block our economic progress.”

Kenney advises we should be hopeful and, if one thing is true, Albertans are hopeful no matter how often and how hard they get punched in the face.

NDP leader Notley advises Kenney not to poke pipeline opponents but the premier isn’t taking advice from “the anti-pipeline party” who made an exception for Trans Mountain.

After all, the NDP had to back this pipeline. It’s the Alberta premier’s job.

Shannon Stubbs, the scrappy Alberta MP walking point on pipelines for the federal Conservatives, gets to see Trudeau all the time in Ottawa.

“It won’t be smooth sailing because all those opposed to the pipeline before are still opposed to it. And they’re going to do everything they can to try to stop it again.”

What’s Trudeau’s plan? He doesn’t have one.

Yes, don’t count your pipeline chickens before they’re hatched.

This is Trudeau who will impose a carbon tax on Alberta if he’s re-elected.

This is Trudeau who pushes laws standing in the way of other pipelines.

This is Trudeau who scolds premiers for daring to mention how his actions hurt the unity of the country.

Then there are those protesters.

A chief in B.C. says Tuesday’s news is “something of a non-event” because construction won’t start soon.

Trans Mountain talks of the steps needed before getting its shovels in the ground and the oilpatch doesn’t order in champagne for the occasion.

Moody’s, the big-time rating agency, sums up the scene with the fancy-pants talk common among the corporate crowd.

The pipeline expansion faces many challenges and Moody’s sees “a tremendous amount of execution risk until the oil starts flowing.”

Tremendous amount of execution risk.

In other words, hang on to your hats, this ride is just beginning and it could be rough.

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